FEATURE NEWS OF THE WEEK

Fine Craft Auction Update: The numbers are pretty much in on the Fine Craft Auction. We can report that:

• $14,745.85 was returned to members for auction items and goblets
• 56 of the 69 auction items were sold
• One piece sold for 600% over the reserve bid
• The event made a profit of $6,596.65 to be divided between the SCC and SCYAP
• The cheques to participating members have been printed, and will be mailed on Monday. Thanks again to everyone for making this first-time event a success.

Premier's Award Increase: We have just been informed that Premier Calvert has agreed to increase the amount of the Premier’s Award for Dimensions 2007 to $3,000 – up a thousand from what it has been. It’s a great way to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of this award being instituted by then-Premier Blakeney. 

New Exhibition: The Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery is pleased to present the latest exhibition "Clay Inside and Out," by Ken Wilkinson and Judy Tryon.  Along with Craig Campell's dynamic "Forged Iron" exhibition in the Upstairs Gallery, Ken and Judy presented their latest exhibition to the public and invited guests at the opening on Saturday, March 9th.

In creating, "Clay Inside and Out," Tryon and Wilkinson, worked collaboratively and individually to produce an exhibition that married structure, function and beauty.

The exhibition may be viewed in the Gallery from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, daily, or view the items on the SCC website here...

Artist's Talk: Ken Wilkinson and Judy Tryon will present an Artist's Talk on Sunday, April 15, at 2:00 pm. Everyone is invited to discover the "story" behind the architectural ceramics, learn more about the processes used, and enjoy a question and answer time.

New Email Newsletter "SaskCRAFTchewan": We are pleased to offer a brand new Email Newsletter "SaskCRAFTchewan" which will be sent to Galleries, Arts agencies, Craft Councils, and any other interested persons. The newsletter will have lots of images and links which might not be ideal for those with slower speed internet connections.  Therefore, we will not send SaskCRAFTchewan to all SCC members automatically.  If you would like to receive a copy, we would be happy to add you to our mailing list. Please send an email here with the following text in the Subject area: "Yes, send me SaskCRAFTchewan".  You may unsubscribe any time.

MEMBER SUCCESS

Trumpet Your Success: We want to hear and share your GOOD NEWS! The Saskatchewan Craft Council loves to promote the success of its members, but we don't always hear about them until they are too late. If you have a particularly large sales success, receive a grant or award, if you are holding a class or exhibition, or if you have teaching or travel opportunities let us know so that we can share your news with others.

The SCC staff is often in contact with media and political figures who are interested in the happenings of our members; the more information that we have about your activities, the more we can support your continued success and growth.

If you have news to pass on to the SCC, email our publications coordinator, Colin Wallace, at scc.editor@shaw.ca .

A)  In March, Wendy Parsons and Zach Dietrich will be working with the Maverick School in Swift current after receiving an Artsmart, Sask. Arts Board Grant. The program introduces these alternate school teens to the arts through an intensive few weeks of working with professionals. Zach and Wendy will be working with the youth in clay while a muscian will be leading them through the music segment. The course culminates in an exhibition and gala evening.
 
In May, Wendy has the opening of her travelling exhibition 'Rural Roundels' in Moose Jaw at the Cultural Centre. The show is being toured by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) for two years.
 
In June, Zach and Wendy will have an exhibition at The Station Arts Centre in Rosthern.

B)  Jim Jensen's eight and one half foot tall bronze sculpture "Forging the Future" will be leased by the city of Saskatoon.  It will be in front of the downtown library for a period of 3 years.  It will be installed there February 8.

C)  Miranda Jones will host an exhibition, "CATS IN CONTEXT AND A DOG OR TWO," at the Darrell Bell Gallery. The exhibition opens Sunday, March 18, 2:00 to 5:00 pm and continues to March 31.

D)  Sturgis 4H Club has asked Melody Kozmeniuk to give a class in clay. 13 students will visit the Kozmeniuk farm to meat their Icelandic Horses, explore the many wonders of the clay, and make something cool. Over a series of classes students will learn, explore and create. The first class begins March 26, 2007.

E)  Jane A. Evans is now a Featured Artist on the website of Dharma Trading Co., California, one of the largest suppliers of textile art supplies in North America.  Jane's work also can be seen at her own website.

F)  Lindsay Embree will be teaching a waterless lithography workshop at Te Kowhai Print Trust in Whangarei, New Zealand on April 27, 28 and 29, 2007.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCC MEMBERS

Dimensions 2007 - Important Dates:

• Fri, March 23, 5:00 pm - Deadline for shipped entries
• Tue, March 27, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm - Saskatoon area entries received
• Wed, March 28, from 11 am to 2:00 pm - Regina area entries received
• Sat, March 31, 10:00 am - The jurors’ critique session held at Room  ED114 in the Education Building at the University of Regina

Dimensions 2007 Reminder for Hand Delivery of Entries:

• Saskatoon and area entries will be received on Tuesday, March 27, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM only at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, 813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon. (Deliver to the SCC parking lot, behind the building, accessible from the alley running between 10th Street and Main Street).
• Regina and area entries will be received on Wednesday, March 28 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM only at Room ED114 in the Education Building at the University of Regina. There is a loading dock near the main entrance for unloading large works.

Questions? Contact Les or Judy at 866-653-3616 ext. 25 or scc.exhibitions@shaw.ca

Marketing Opportunity: Mother's Day Studio Tours: The SCC would like to try a Studio Tour Promotion on Mother’s Day (May 13th). We need to know if there is enough interest in this to proceed. Here’s how it would work:

• Participating Craftspeople would open their studios to the public and market directly to visitors on Mothers’ Day.
• The SCC would publish two brochures – one highlighting studios in and around Regina and one for studios in and around Saskatoon.
• Each participating Craftsperson would have a page in the brochure – outlining them, their work, and their location.
• The SCC would also print and market gift certificates that would be redeemable at every participating studio.
• The SCC would advertise the event and sell gift certificates with the sales pitch of “Get your mother something she’d really like – a work of Saskatchewan Fine Craft – and spend an afternoon with her visiting studios so that she can pick it out.”

Cost to participating Craftspeople: The SCC would operate this promotion on a cost-recovery, break even basis. Artist fees and commission rates would be spent on printing the brochure and advertising the event. The cost to participating craftspeople would be:

• An up-front fee of $75 to pay for the production of the brochure and initial advertising; and
• Gift certificates would be redeemed at 80% of face value. In essence, this would represent 20% commission for the printing, advertising and sales expense of getting the customer to your studio doorstep.
• Any cash sales that you generate as a result of the visit would not be subjected to any additional fee or commission.

Fine Craft Guide: Welcome to Rodney Peterson, our latest member to place a page on the Fine Craft Guide.  We currently have 31 Artisans listed on this increasingly popular section of our website.

To have your own page on the Fine Craft Guide, visit www.saskcraftcouncil.org and click on the Fine Craft Guide link on the top navigation bar.  Then, under the main buttons in the centre of the page you will see the following statement: "If you are an artisan, click here to register for this exciting new service."  Follow this link and the required information will be forwarded to Beagle Productions.  They will then reply to you with further instructions and, shortly afterwards, your page will appear on the SCC site.  The fee is currently $50.00 per year, payable to the Saskatchewan Craft Council.

Clay Re-Jury Session: We plan to continue the Clay Re-Jury process early this spring in Regina for those who were not part of the September session in Saskatoon. Each marketing member juried in Clay will receive information about the session when details are finalized.

Have a productive and profitable week!